













- MANUAL 


* > OF THE 


| | AMERICAN FRIENDS’ BOARD 
FOREIGN MISSIONS 


FOR THE 
ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 
6 j ¥ OF 

MISSIONS 


- ADOPTED BY THE BOARD 
~<+- October 7th, 1910 . 


~ RICHMOND, INDIANA 
1910 


Thornwood Press, Knightstown; Ind, 





MANUAL 


OF THE 


AMERICAN FRIENDS’ BOARD 


FOREIGN MISSIONS 


ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 


OF 


MISSIONS 


ADOPTED BY THE BOARD 
October 7th, 1910 


oe 


RICHMOND, INDIANA 
1910 


INTRODUCTION: 5). 5 9% 4% 


In the preparation of this Manual, the Manuals of the 
American Board, the Foreign Mission Boards of the Pres- 
byterian Church, the Reformed Church in America, and 
the English Friends were carefully examined. They are 
in absolute agreement upon every principle involved, and 
differ only in verbal expression. In this Manual we have 
incorpor ated the pr inciples, and sometimes the language of 
these: 

It is important to distinguish between the mission and 
the Native Church. The mission is solely responsible for 
the care of our mission work, and the expenditure of funds 
furnished by our Boards. No native has any right in that. 
On the other hand the Native Church is to be given as rap- 
idly as seems expedient, the charge of its own affairs. 

Missionaries will please preserve this Manual for fre- 
quent reference, regarding it as confidential as regards out- 
side parties. 


- Supreme Aim of Missions 


‘* The first aim of every missionary should be to make 
known the gospel of Christ. Whether this be by preaching, 
by the reading of scripture, by teaching, or by other means, it 
will be the duty and privilege of each missionary so to live 
and work as to endeavor to convey to the spiritual understand- 
ing of the people a sense of the love of God as revealed in his 
son, Jesus Christ, who has ‘been manifested to put away sin 
by the sacrifice of himself. Each missionary should seek to 
be the means of leading the people to realize experimentally 
that the gospel ‘is the power of God unto salvation to every 
one that believeth.’ Enguirers should be encouraged to exer- 
cise such belief, and converts should be taught to yield them- 
selves to the control of the Holy Spirit, that they may know 
the power of the lifein Christ and the joy of Christian service. 

A love of the Bible, and diligence in reading it, should 
be inculeated by example and precept, and all should be en- 
couraged to “search the’ scriptures” which are able to make 
“wise unto salvation through faith which ts in Christ Jesus.” 


THE MISSIONARY 


GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 


Testing of Candidates. The Board provides a list of test 
questions for candidates, which are designed to make clear the 
qualifications for missionary work. Some of these are to be 
answered by himself, and others by those who have known him. 
They are in part medical. 

The strain of missionary work requires a sound body, well 
trained mind, and a genuine Christian experience, with ability 
to draw others to a personal acquaintance with Jesus Christ. 
Mission Boards are increasingly feeling the importance of a 
thorough education, and tested power for service. 


A 


The missionary should go out with the expectation of life 
service. A short term of service is exceedingly costly. The 
first years are years of preparation, with low efficiency. Every 
additional year should be with increased power. 

The wife of a missionary should have the same general 
qualifications as the husband, except perhaps in professional 
matters. 7 . 

Power of language acquisition and adaptation decreases 
with age, and 33 to 35 years is ubout the limit of desirable can- 
didates. 

Acceptance. Final-acceptance rests with the Board. The 
Board desires to get in touch with candidates as early as possible, 
so as to give them whatever of advice and assistance in prepara- 
tion may be in their power. 

Assignment. A candidate may be qetearen some time be- 
fore a suitable opening for service appears. In the assignment 
of field, consideration will be given to the desires of the candi- 
date; but other factors may be equally important. Livingstone 
was accepted for China, but Africa proved to be his field. 

Outfit. Family or friends should have the same joy in out- 
fitting young people for mission life as for life at home. The 
constant reminders of such loving care will be a continuous 
source of joy when on the field, far separated from loved ones. 
An allowance may be made for outfit, at the discretion of the 
Board. Where house furnishings are provided by the Board, 
they will be considered the property of the Board, and are to be 
turned over to the mission when the missionary leaves the field. 

Freight. Reasonable allowance for freight will be made 
by the Board. 

Journey. The Board allows fare to the field by the most 
direct route, and least expensive class that will give ordinary 
comfort. This will be determined by the Board. Whenever 
missionaries choose another route or class, they must be respon- 
sible for extra expense. 

Support. The support of missionaries varies in different 
fields according to the expense of living. It is determined by 


4 


by the Board after correspondence with the mission. The gen- 
eral idea on which it is based is that of giving a comfortable sup- 
port to all missionaries, irrespective of their duties or position. 
Usually a house is provided, or house rent paid. The support 
of aman and wife is approximately double that of a single 
worker, with an allowance for each child under 18 years of age. 
A missionary remaining at his post while his-wife returns home 
is usually paid only as a single worker. The support begins on 
their arrival at their station, and ceases when they leave, or on 
the termination of their connection with the Board. Salaries 
shall be paid at the end of each month, so far as practicable. 
All salaries cease at death; in cases, however, of a missionary 
left a widower with children, or of a widow similarly situated, 
the support shall be continued at the same rate until otherwise 
arranged in view of all the circumstances. 

An allowance will be made for servants when by so doing 
missionaries may be freed for the more important work of the 
mission. 

Support will be paid for children of missionaries according 
to scale determined by the Board. 

Furloughs. The appointment of missionaries contemplates 
service for life if the Lord will. Occasional furloughs, how- 
ever, are in complete accord with such service. The change af- 
forded tends to preserve or restore the health and energies of 
the missionaries, and their presence at home tends to increase 
interest in mission work. 

No uniform time for furloughs can be fixed upon; but it is 
suggested that in ordinary cases seven years be regarded as the 
minimum length of the first period of service. In some extreme 
climates, as Africa, a much shorter term of service seems 
necessary. 

A missionary is not to assume that he is to take a furlough 
at the expiration of the minimum term of service, irrespective 
of his physical condition and the needs of the work; but if he 
completes that term of service in the possession of good health, 
he is to remain a longer period, the mission determining the 


dD 


question as to when he shall return home, subject to the approv- 
al of the Field Committee, the rule and expectation being that 
the term.of service shall approximate a longer period. 

When leave of absence is granted, the Board will defray the 
expenses of the journey, by the most direct and economical 
route consistent with health, to the missionary’s home. These 
expenses include freight only on personal effects necessary to be 
brought. All other freight, duties on curiosities, ete., must be 
paid by the missionary. Expenses of delays on the way, unless 
absolutely required by health or otherwise unavoidable, are not 
to be charged to the Board. Salaries cease on leaving the sta- 
tion, and they will receive funds from the station and mission 
Treasurers for the expenses of the journey, such funds to*be 
charged to the Treasurer of the Board and at once reported to 
him, to be accounted for by the missionary on arrival home. 
Missionaries leaving the mission-should always bring a certified 
statement of their account from the Mission or Station Treasurer 
as settled up to the time of their departure, or an order on the 
Treasurer at home for the balance due the missionary, so that 
their accounts with the mission may be closed. 

Furloughs in all ordinary cases are for one year only, in 
addition to the time required for a direct journey from and to 
the mission fields. The time of leaving therefore, should be 
fixed with reference to a return at a suitable season of the year. 
It is expected that furloughs will be spent in this country. Tar- 
rying in foreign countries should not be planned for except for 
urgent reasons, and after special permission has been obtained. 

An allowance, if needed, will be provided for missionaries 
on leave of absence, to date from their arrival at destination in 
this country, the amount to be determined by agreement with 
the Board. 

Home Work. Missionaries receiving an allowance shall 
utilize their time as arranged with the Board. Money received 
for any service shall be accounted for to the Board. 

Vacation on Field. Such brief vacations on the field as 
may be necessary for the best interests of the mission force are 

6 


to be determined both as to time and length by the missions on 
the basis of plans submitted by the missions, and approved by 
the Board. 

Missionaries granted brief vacations, either on the field or 
returning to the homeland, shall bear their own traveling ex- 
penses, unless in exceptional cases when the Board may make a 
special grant on the recommendation of the mission. Full sal- 
ary to continue throughout the vacation. 

Medical Expenses. At Stations where medical mission- 
aries are laboring under commission from the Board, they are 
regarded as the physicians of the missionary families connected 
with the Board, to render such service to them without charge, 
and the Board does not engage to be responsible for expense in- 
curred in seeking medical aid elsewhere. Where there is no 
medical missionary or other physician, the Board will be re- 
sponsible for reasonable expense incurred in reaching or obtain- 
ing the nearest competent physician or surgeon. At stations 
where there is no medical missionary of the Board an allowance 
for medical attendance will be made, the amount to be included 
in the estimates as a station appropriation. When in except- 
ional cases this amount is necessarily exceeded, an application in 
regular form for special appropriation may be made to the 
Board. No medical allowance will be made for missionaries on 
furlough in the United States, except in circumstances of ex- 
traordinary necessity. 

Funeral Expenses. In case of the death of any of the mis- 
sionaries on the field, the Board will be responsible for reason- 
able funeral expenses. In making the necessary arrangements 
the survivors are to consider the probable effect upon their con- 
verts and other natives. We believe that simple and inexpensive 
arrangements will have a more lasting beneficial effect than any 
extravagant display. The Board will not be responsible for the 
cost of removal of bodies from their mission. 

Language Study. The Board regards the ability to write, 
but especially to speak, the native language as an indispensable 
qualification for missionary service. To aid in securing this the 


7 


several missions are required, through a competent committee, 
to examine new missionaries at the close of the first and second 
years of service, aud at such other times as the mission may 
deem wise, as to their knowledge of the native tongues, and re- 
port the result to the secretary of the Board in charge of the 
correspondence with the mission. No exemption from such ex- 
amination shall be made without consent of the Field Committee. 

Where it is necessary to procure special teaching, the ex- 
pense will be borne by the Board. Such expense, however, to 
be refunded in case the individual fails to make progress to the 
satisfaction of the mission, or returns from the field before be- 
ing authorized to do so by the Board. 

Outside Work. The Board expects that no missionary will 
engage in business, or accept a commission to execute any kind 
of work, for personal profit while engaged in work for the 
Board, without the sanction of the mission and the Board. In 
case of work so approved, all remuneration received therefrom 
shal] be paid to the Mission Treasurer of the Board. 

Personal Interest in Property. The Board is strongly of 
opinion that it is undesirable for a missionary to acquire a per- 
sonal interest in house or landed property in the field where he 
is at work. Situations may arise where a missionary’s personal 
interest would clash with his duty, and other reasons may also be 
urged against such a practice. The sanction of the Board must 
be obtained before property is purchased for private purposes. 

Withdrawal from Service. In the event of withdrawal 
from missionary service for reasons considered sufficient by the 
Board, it will defray the expenses of the journey to this coun- 
try, provided said journey be made within six months from the 
date of withdrawal, and may make a grant of funds to meet ex- 
igencies in cases of special need. 

Recall. ‘‘While a missionary is accepted by the Board in 
the expectation that his service may be life-long, the Board re- 
serves its right to reconsider his position if at any time a mis- 
sionary shall conduct himself in a manner inconsistent with his 
profession as a Christian and as a missionary associated with the 


5 


work of Friends; or even if the missionary shall display in his 
general character subsequent to his acceptance, the want of any 
quality necessary to a successful missionary. For instance, the 
inability to acquire a language after five years service in the 
field or his proved inability to work with others, will:be con- 
sidered ground to warrant the Board in considering whether it 
is to the interests of the mission to retain him as one of its mis- 
sionaries. ” 


THE MISSION 


The mission shall consist of all missionaries appointed by 
the Board in a prescribed field, who have been one year on the 
field and have successfully passed the language test. 

The Field Committee may constitute missionaries members 
in less than the years time. 

- Meetings. A regular meeting of the mission shall be held 
once a year. It shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings, 
copies of which are to be sent to the Field Committee and to the 
Board Secretary soon after each meeting, together with copies 
of all important documents presented at the meeting. With 
these should be sent letters giving full explanation regarding all 
' points requiring action by the Board. 

Delegates. Each station shall send one delegate to every 
meeting, and one additional delegate if there be more than five 
members in the station. The traveling expenses of delegates 
shall be paid by the Board, the same to be separately stated in 
the annual estimates. Members of a station who are not sent as 
delegates may attend the meetings of the mission at their own 
expense and participate in the deliberations. Each delegate has 
the right to vote, and by consent of the delegates this right may 
be extended to all members present. On questions of expendi- 
ture of funds and the location or retirement of missionaries a 
two-thirds vote shall be required. No missionary work, wheth- 
er literary, educational or evangelistic, shall be undertaken or 
carried on by individual members unless approved by a two- 
thirds vote of the mission. 


Powers of Mission. Subject to the final approval of the 
Board through the Field Committee, the mission shall have the 


following powers: 


I. Over MISSIONARIES. 

(a) Assignment. The mission assigns and in general su- 
pervises the work of individual missionaries, to the 
end that all forms of labor may have the benefit of 
united counsel and may promote the interests of the 
work as a whole. 

(b) Furloughs and Vacations. 

(c) Language examinations. 

(d) Matters affecting the usefulness of missionaries. 


II. GerneRAL Mission. 

(a) Proposals concerning New Work or Enlargement. No 
new stations shall be established, or extended tours 
of exploration made except by vote of the Board, on 
recommendation of two-thirds of the mission. 

(b) Matters affecting the good name of the mission. 

(c) Mission Helpers; their character, work and pay. 

(d) Annual reports to the Board. 


III. By-Laws. 
(a) Rules governing mission matters. 
(b) Rules governing church matters. 
(c) Rules governing school matters. 
IV. FINance. 
(a) Expenditure of funds according to annual appropri- 
ations. 
(b) Making Annual Estimates. (See ‘Estimates.’) 
(c) Applications for special grants in emergency. 
V. Property. 
(a) Purchase or sale subject to authorization of Board. 
(b) Rental of property. 
(c) Securing legal titles. 
(d) Maintaining in repair. 
10 


Estimates. At each annual meeting the mission shall care- 
fully prepare plans and estimates for the work of the coming 
year and forward to the Field Committee. The regular mission 
estimates should include taxes, repairs, insurance, expenses of 
annual meeting, and probable expense of furloughs as well as 
everything absolutely necessary for the work of the year, and 
the amount should be distributed according to the relative im- 
portance of each object. A further estimate may be prepared of 
additional objects and needs, arranged in the order of their im- 
portance, to be provided for so far as the income of the Board 
may allow. Grants in aid of churches, schools, pastors, and 
helpers should not be continued from year to year on the same 
scale, but gradually reduced by laying more and more of the 
amount upon the people benefitted, as they may be able to as- 
suine it. 

Each station in preparing its estimates shall consult with 
the proper agents of the native church so as to secure its proper 
share in, and responsibility for, the support of all evangelistic 
and educational work. The amount given by the native church 
and the amount of help asked from the Board shall be clearly 
stated. The estimated receipts from the field shall be carefully 
stated, and also the estimated expenses, and only that amount 
shall be asked which is needed to meet the estimated deficit. 

The Board will make its appropriations annually, after due 
consideration of the report of the Field Committee based on the 
estimates from the missions, and its own estimate of the prob- 
able receipts. In making its appropriations the Board will 
carefully study the relative claims of the different missions in 
view of their peculiar necessities and development. Vo appli- 
cations of individual memlers of a mission can be considered 
by the Board. The concurrence of the mission is required. If, 
however, a missionary shall feel aggrieved by the action of his 
mission, he may have the right of appeal to the Board. Prob- 
able expense for furloughs should be included in the annual es- 
timates. 

Emergencies. The work when approved for the year, 


11 


must not be enlarged at increased expense without the sanction 
of the mission and approval of the Board. 

In extreme emergencies, where immediate action is neces- 
sary, the expense if approved by the Board will be provided for 
by additional grants. If considered unreasonable, the mission 
must bear the responsibility. The saving of life or property 
from destruction would be proper emergencies. 

It must be borne in mind that the Board is simply an in- 
termediary between the home church and the missions. It en- 
deavors to keep the work of the missions up to the probable re- 
ceipts for the year. When, therefore, special emergency de- 
mands are made by one mission it is likely to cause embarrass- 
ment to all the missions. Missionaries must look beyond their 
own local needs to the welfare of the whole. 

Special Appeals. It is the desire of the Board that the 
estimates should be so complete as to preclude applications from 
the field to churches, Bible schools, societies or individuals for 
special gifts. Such applications involve unjust discriminations 
in favor of some missions and missionaries, subordinate the 
judgment of the mission to private judgment, interfere with the 
regular income of the Board, and if right for one are right for 
all, and so militate against the purpose of the church in the es- 
tablishment of the Board. It is expected that each missionary 
will aid in raising the amount required for the work formally 
recommended by the missions and approved by the Board. 
Special appeals should be made only when authorized by the 
Board. 

Property. No property is to be purchased or sold, nor 
any building erected for the Board, without its sanction. None 
of its propertv is to be mortgaged or assigned for debt. All 
property given or purchased for its use shall be at once trans- 
ferred to it, or be held in trust for it. Gifts on the field or from 
sources outside of the Board’s Treasury for the erection of 
buildings on the property of the Board, or for enlarging or im- 
proving buildings already in use, or for acquiring new property, 
should be reported to the Board, and before these gifts are ex- 

12 


pended full plans of the improvements contemplated should be 
submitted to the Board for its approval. Title deeds of all 
property are to be duly recorded in the way required by the 
government within whose territory the mission is located; copies 
thereof, with diagrams of lands and buildings, to be sent to the 
oftice at Richmond, Indiana. All repairs on buildings shall be in- 
cluded in the general estimates, and no enlargement or alteration 
involving expense shall be made without the concurrence of the 
mission, and, if amounting to more than $100.00, the sanction 
of the Field Committee. 

Property not in use and not likely to be needed for mission- 
ary purposes should be disposed of promptly, or as soon as a 
fair price can be obtained. Sales are to be authorized by the 
mission on terms approved by them and confirmed, in the case 
of real estate, by the Board. The proceeds of such sales should 
be credited to the Board and reported at once. Where property 
unused by the mission cannot be sold, it should be rented as ad- 
vantageously as possible and the proceeds reported to the Treas- 
urer of the Board; in such cases the character of the tenant and 
the proposed use of the property should be carefully considered. 


THE STATION 


The station consists of a local field, where at least one mis- 
sionary resides. Each station shall have control of the mission- 
ary work within its field, under the direction of the mission. 
New stations can be established only by action of the Field Com- 
mittee on recommendation of the mission. 

Reports. Each station shall prepare at the close of the 
mission year, reports, both statistical and general, of the various 
departments of its work, and submit them to the mission at the 
annual meeting. Each missionary also shall prepare a brief per- 
sonal report of his or her labors during the year, to be submit- 
ted to the mission. All these reports should be reviewed by 
the mission, and forwarded to the Board through the Field Com- 
mittee, with the missions judgment thereon. It is expected that 


13 


each station will keep in close touch with its Field Committee 
through at least quarterly letters. 

Mission and Station Secretaries. Each mission or station 
shall choose for itself a secretary, who shall be changed as seldom 
as possible, and whose duties shall be to conduct all official cor- 
respondence, and make out all reports; to keep all minutes and 
official papers on file; and to see that all official letters of the 
Board intended for them are seen by each missionary. The 
Secretary shall preside at all meetings. All payments shall be 
made on order of the Secretary. 

Mission and Station Treasurers. Each mission or station 
(as the Field Committee shall direct) shall appoint a Treasurer to 
be approved by the Field Committee. He shall keep in official 
books clear and correct accounts of all receipts and payments, 
and shall have vouchers for the latter, and keep files of all 
official correspondence belonging to his department. He is the 
agent of the Board for the distribution of the amount appropri- 
ated for his mission or station, and is responsible to the Treas- 
urer of the Board for all funds forwarded by him; these funds 
shall be kept in a bank or other safe depository approved by 
the mission. There is no warrant for assuming liabilities on be- 
half of the Board, without the actual consent of the Board, and 
the Board has the right to repudiate any such obligations. The 
receipt of remittances is to be officially acknowledged by the Mis- 
sion or Station Treasurer, and for all such funds he must return 
an annual report to the Board through its Treasurer, duly au- 
dited by a committee of not less than two, appointed for such 
purpose by the mission at its annual meeting. 

The Treasurer of the Board may require from time to time 
concise statements of the mission or Station Treasuries; but the 
full detailed statement must be made once a year. At the end 
of the year all unexpended balances and unused appropriations 
revert to the Treasury of the Board. 


14 


Relation to the Native Church 


The prime. object of mission work is, as soon as possible, to 
establish in.every land a ‘“‘self-propagating, self-supporting, 
and self-governing Church.’ Converts should be made to feel 
from the beginning, that they are responsible for the evangeliza- 


tion of their own people. All native workers should feel their 
responsibility for their own people, and the native church should 


feel the responsibility for their support. In early stages grants 
are made to assist the Native Church in this, with the understand- 
ing that these grants are to be made less from year to year, as 
the Native Church becomes better able to support its own work 
(see ‘Estimates’, page 11). No native worker should be regarded 
as in the employ of the mission or a foreign Board. A mission 
is successful in proportion as it is able to produce a Native 
Church that is able to stand alone without further assistance 
from the mission. .Put responsibility on the natives; for re- 
sponsibility develops power. Do not be over hasty in placing 
high official position on any until thoroughly tested; but do not 
fear to put the test. Avoid arbitrary rule over them, but 
firmly lead. As far as possible let authority be advisory. Cul- 
tivate love and confidence. 


Relation to the Work of Other Boards 


Church leaders are coming to feel that we have no right to 
perpetuate our denominational divisions on foreign soil. The 
future ideal is one Christian church for every land. Hence all 
our work should be done in such a way as to make the ideal 
the real. Naturally the organization at the first will be after 
our own order. But peculiarities should not be over empha- 
sized. The spirit of fraternity with other churches and their 
workers should be cultivated. 

There should be no proselyting of converts or workers. We 
should preach the gospel according to our own convictions of 
truth, but always with the clear conviction that God accepts as 


15 


members of His family those of other convictions. ‘Therefore 
we should cultivate fellowship with all whom He accepts. Fel- 
lowship is vital. Our differing views are not necessarily so. 

Those positive doctrines which as a Christian body we have 
always emphasized,—the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, the 
perpetual Spiritual Communion, the un-Christian character of 
War and Oaths, are now being generally received by Chris- 
tians, and can be strongly emphasized anywhere. On the ques- 
tion of the Ordinances, which so unfortunately divides the Body 
of Christ, let the principle of Galatians 5: 6, be emphasized. In 
the moving of converts from place to place, give and receive 
letters of commendation to fellowship and church membership. 
Foster every effort for better mutual understanding, the har- 
monizing of methods of dealing with native converts and work- 
ers, and closer co-operation. Never receive members of other 
churches without knowing they have been dismissed in good 
standing. Let all our praying and working be in unison with 
the last great prayer of our Lord for His disciples before He 
went to the cross. John 17: 20, 21. 








